Hair tool

ABSTRACT

A hair tool includes a length of shock cord having a first end and a second end, and a spring-loaded fastener having a closeable aperture and a first side and a second side. The ends of the shock cord are passed through the closeable aperture and secured together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a division of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/433,686, filed Jun. 6, 2019, which is incorporated herein inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to accessories for the hair.

2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art

Accessories for holding and enhancing the appearance of human hair havebeen known at least since ancient times, expressing cultural andindividual values, and reflecting class, sex, and social status.Headbands, pins, barettes, scrunchies, clips, turbans, nets, helmets,hair extensions, elastic loops, combs, and the like have been used invarious forms for literally thousands of years. Nevertheless, there is acontinuing need for devices to quickly and easily shape hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hair tool comprising a length of shockcord having a first end and a second end, and a spring-loaded fastenerhaving a closeable aperture and a first side and a second side. Theshock cord passes through the closeable aperture such that the first endand the second end of the shock cord each extend from either the firstside or the second side of the fastener and the spring-loaded fastenercaptures two portions of the shock cord to form a loop in the shock cordsecured by the spring-loaded fastener. Preferably, the first end of theshock cord and the second end of the shock cord extend through thecloseable aperture in the same direction. In a presently preferredembodiment, the hair tool includes a shock cord which is nominallyone-eighth inch in diameter. Preferably, the hair tool includes a shockcord which has a length between eight inches and sixteen inches.Preferably, the ends of the shock cord are capped such that the endscannot pass through the closeable aperture in the spring-loadedfastener. In one aspect of the present invention, the ends of the shockcord are capped with knots.

The present invention also provides a process for shaping hair with ahair tool, the process including providing a hair tool comprising alength of shock cord having a first end and a second end, and aspring-loaded fastener having a closeable aperture and a first side anda second side, the shock cord being passed through the closeableaperture such that the first end and the second end of the shock cordeach extend from either the first side or the second side of thefastener and the spring-loaded fastener captures two portions of theshock cord to form a loop in the shock cord secured by the spring-loadedfastener. The process further includes operating the spring-loadedfastener to release tension on the cord; drawing the cord through thespring-loaded fastener until the ends of the cord extend proximate aside of the fastener; releasing the spring in the fastener to capturethe cord; passing hair through the loop; and drawing the ends of thecord through the fastener to tighten the loop around the hair.Preferably, the process further includes tucking the ends of the cordbetween the hair and the loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hair tool according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A hair tool 10 according to the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1. The hair tool includes a length of shock cord 20 having a firstend 22 and and second end 24 and a spring-loaded fastener 30 having afirst side 32 and a second side 34 as well as an aperture 40 formedtherein for receiving either end 22, 24 of the shock cord 20. The shockcord is preferably one-eighth inch diameter shock cord available in avariety of colors and with a nylon jacket that resists abrasion and UVsunlight. The spring-loaded fastener 30 can be a cylinder cord lockhaving a cylindrical core and tubular case for receiving the core, withapertures formed in the core and either side of the case with the corebiased by a spring away from the bottom of the case, such that when thecore is manually pressed down, the aperature in the core and case alignso that the ends 22, 24 of the shock cord can be passed through thealigned aperature to form the hair tool 10. Releasing the spring locksthe cord in place within the cord lock. Preferably, the two ends 22, 24pass through the spring-loaded fastener 30 in the same direction asshown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the two ends 22, 24 of the shock cord 20are capped with a suitable cap 50 such that the ends 22, 24 cannot beaccidently passed through the fastener 30 by a user. The cap 50 can be aknot formed at the ends 22, 24 of the cord 20. On one side 32 of thefastener 30 the cord forms a loop 26. To use the hair tool 10, a personcan bunch his or her hair as desired and pass it through the loop 26 ofthe hair tool 10. The user then pulls the ends 22, 24 to tighten theloop 26 of the cord 20 at the desired position on the hair. The ends 22,24 can then be tucked in between the loop 26 and the hair or otherwise,if desired by the user.

Various modifications can be made in the details of the variousembodiments of the articles and processes of the present invention, allwithin the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A hair tool consisting essentially of: a length of shock cord havinga first end and a second end, and a spring-loaded fastener having acloseable aperture and a first side and a second side, the shock cordbeing passed through the closeable aperture such that the first end andthe second end of the shock cord each extend from either the first sideor the second side of the fastener and the spring-loaded fastenercaptures two portions of the shock cord to form a loop in the shock cordsecured by the spring-loaded fastener.
 2. A hair tool according to claim1 wherein the first end of the shock cord and the second end of theshock cord extend throughout the closeable aperture in the samedirection.
 3. A hair tool according to claim 1 wherein the shock cord isnominally one-eighth inch in diameter.
 4. A hair tool according to claim1 wherein the shock cord has a length between eight inches and sixteeninches.
 5. A hair tool according to claim 1 wherein the ends of theshock cord are capped such that the ends cannot pass through thecloseable aperture in the spring-loaded fastener.
 6. A hair toolaccording to claim 5 wherein the ends of the shock cord are cappedtogether with a knot.